Along with it, there was also an edict from the emperor naming him Ping Lupp.
Originally, he thought that the court only considered him to have "made meritorious service for his crimes" and that it would be good if he was not punished. But now that he was not only innocent, but also given a title, it felt like a cold water poured over him in the middle of summer.
Very cool.
After entering the city, he faced a group of colleagues who came to congratulate him on his promotion to earl and his re-promotion to chief military officer. However, he led his troops straight to the general military mansion. He was not going to take over his official residence, but to pay a visit to Ma Zhongxi.
Ma Zhongxi had just received the news that Zhangzhou Town had been moved to Datong and that the governor's office would continue to be his residence. In the past two days, he was still moving out from the General Military Mansion.
When I found out that Ma Yi had come and got the title, the feeling... was no different from eating a fly.
"I've met Ma Zhongcheng."
When Ma Yi saw Ma Zhongxi, she could finally be arrogant, because she would work together in the Xuanfu in the future. Ma Yi dared to show off her power in front of Ma Zhongxi without saying anything, but the way she straightened her back seemed to be challenging.
Don't you want to punish me?
come!
Now I'm not afraid anymore. The court didn't even mention my sins or anything, and promoted me to the rank of commander-in-chief. In the future, if you want to manage military affairs in Xuan Mansion, you have to rely on me... I was afraid before that you would listen to you, but now who
Who do you listen to? I am no longer just a commander. Does the count understand?
At least I can be on an equal footing with you.
Ma Zhongxi said coldly: "Ma, your majesty gave you a knighthood to reward your meritorious service in the grassland war with the Tatars. It does not mean that you are not a criminal. Some people are covering you up and deceiving the saints. But your
Sooner or later, your sin will be exposed, so you should take care of yourself!"
Lao Ma is also very anxious now.
The memorial to resign has not been approved, and now the emperor has rewarded him for his contribution in this battle. He has been promoted to a higher rank, and he will continue to be the governor of Xuanfu as the right deputy censor of the capital. From now on, he will have to obey Zhang Zhou's orders.
This made him very unhappy.
Ma Yi said: "What Ma Zhongcheng said is absolutely true. The general will definitely take care of himself. He will not recruit private soldiers again in the future. I hope Ma Zhongcheng will supervise more."
"What?"
Ma Zhongxi frowned.
Are you here to admit your mistake and make peace with me?
But looking at you like this, your nostrils are about to turn to the sky. I don’t believe you! Now that you have Zhang Bingkuan as your backer, will you still take me seriously?
"Here is a letter from Zhang Zhitai, asking the general to pass it on to Ma Zhongcheng, and asking Ma Zhongcheng to read it in person." As he said that, Ma Yi also took out a letter.
Ma Zhongxi thought to himself, what a lot of trouble.
Disgusting mother opened the door for disgusting, this is extremely disgusting.
But after all, Zhang Zhou is still his boss. He can't just tear up the letter his boss gave him in front of outsiders... In the past, he would definitely do this, but if he does it now
, was sued by the inspector and censor, it can be said that he neglected his duties, or even said that he was disrespectful to his superiors.
Who knows if this is a letter from Zhang Zhou giving him defense arrangements?
Personal letters…
Zhang Bingkuan, you sincerely want to embarrass others, right?
"Bring it over!" Ma Zhongxi motioned for his subordinates to pick it up, but he didn't even go to pick up the letter himself.
The subordinate officers next to them looked at the fighting spirit between the top civil and military officials of the Xuanfu in front of them, and felt very anxious in their hearts.
During the war, the commander-in-chief came to apologize to you, but you, the governor, were still so tense and arrogant, who were you showing your face to?
Even though this group of people were eating with Ma Zhongxi, they all seemed to feel that Ma Zhongxi was at fault.
…
…
On the day Ma Yi led his troops back to Xuanfu, battle reports came from the front line.
After Ma Zhongxi learned the battle report, he had to call Ma Yi to the governor's Yamen... That night, Ma Zhongxi moved back to the governor's Yamen, and moved all the things Zhang Zhou left in Xuan Mansion to the post house, probably
It means that the guy can't even think about occupying the magpie's nest.
"Ma Zhongcheng..."
"Needless to say, the Huoshan Division is heading south again from the Weining Sea. The soldiers and horses have passed Maoerzhuang and are approaching Datong Town. I have ordered the officers and soldiers of the Wanquan Division to be on guard around the perimeter. You don't need to stay.
In Xuanfu Town, patrol the various passes!"
The purpose of Ma Zhongxi calling Ma Yi here was to drive Ma Yi away.
As the governor, Ma Zhongxi had reason to stay in Xuanfu Town.
But as the chief military officer, Ma Yi did not have to stay in Xuanfu Town.
Ma Yi said: "The last general has just returned from Datong. Along the way, I saw that the soldiers at various passes are well prepared. Nothing major will happen."
"You don't want to go?" Ma Zhongxi frowned.
I would like to discuss this with you in a good voice. Now that you, Ma Yi, have become a commoner, you are above me in terms of official position. However, since you are the commander-in-chief and do not obey the governor's orders, I can impeach you!
Ma Yi also felt bad.
He had just returned to Xuanfu. One day, before his wife and children had spent time together, he was sent to patrol the customs by Ma Zhongxi. Isn't this typical retaliation?
"General, I will go back and clean up now, and lead the army to set off early tomorrow morning." Ma Yi said, cupping his fists.
Ma Zhongxi almost wanted to say, you can leave tonight.
But after thinking about it, he found that it was indeed a bit unhuman. Although the little old man had a sullen face, he still showed some kindness at this time and said coldly: "Leave tomorrow morning, otherwise I will attend the memorial ceremony."
Unless you request to be transferred elsewhere."
Only then did Ma Yi understand.
Ma Zhongxi deliberately embarrassed him and asked him to "resign" on his own. The so-called resignation naturally did not mean that he would give up his job, but that he would ask the court to guard another place.
You, Ma Zhongxi, don’t even move around, so you want me to make room for you?
I'm from Zhang Zhitai, and I'm here to restrict you, "Old Horse." That's right, that's what Zhang Zhitai calls you. You don't want me to be subdued.
Is it for your sake that I stay in Xuanfu?
I am working for Zhang Zhitai!
Why do you ask me to be transferred when your boss said you wanted me to leave? Even if you are a slave, I will stay in Xuanfu Town.
…
…
The Huosi Chinese Army Headquarters moved southward from Weininghai, passed Maoerzhuang, and approached Datong.
The most nervous person about this was Wang Shouren, the governor of Datong.
However, this also gave him an opportunity. After he arrived in Datong, the local generals and gentry were not very cooperative with his work. They felt that he, the airborne governor, had harmed local interests and that policies could not be implemented... and through the sieve of fire...
With this reason for going south, Wang Shouren took the opportunity to firmly control the military power.
Whether you cooperate or not is not important. What is important is that you know who is in charge in Datong.
Wang Xi, the commander-in-chief, had not returned to Yanghekou recently. He also knew that Zhang Zhou had set out from Yanghekou. He thought that Zhang Zhou would arrive in Datong soon. However, the information showed that Zhang Zhou went to the south of Datong Town, with an unclear purpose.
Wang Xi can only listen to Wang Shouren more now.
"...Wang Zhongcheng, now the fortresses and key passes of Datong North Pass have been strengthened. However, the drought this summer is relatively serious. If the situation continues like this, Datong's grain harvest will not be able to be harvested after autumn. It is better to follow up as soon as possible.
The imperial court requested that money and food be allocated first..."
Wang Xi seems to be very respectful to Wang Shouren, but he is also the kind of person who can't do anything early without benefit.
Ma Yi and others had gained military honors by accompanying Zhang Zhou in battles, and they respected Zhang Zhou because they had already benefited from it.
Wang Xi, on the other hand, was "in awe" of Zhang Zhou and Wang Shouren, and there was a big difference.
Although Wang Shouren had just arrived, he also understood the temperament of the generals in the northwest. If you only let this group of people work for you with "reverence", they may seem respectful, but they will not be efficient in doing things, and everyone has their own agenda.
Wang Shouren said: "The Tatar troops are outside the pass and requesting money and food from the court. They should indeed make preparations in advance. This is also preparation for winter."
"What Wang Zhongcheng said is absolutely true. The soldiers and even the people of Datong Town have always had a hard time surviving the winter." Wang Xi's face showed a slight joy.
Wang Shouren changed the subject and said: "But it is unrealistic to expect the imperial court to allocate money and grain now. After all, the autumn grain has not yet been put into the warehouse, and the imperial court has not yet, so naturally it cannot be transferred to the northwest. Do you know what Zhang Zhitai is doing going south?"
"Not...mining?"
Of course Wang Xi knew that Zhang Zhou wanted to make money on his own, but he and the generals in the northwest felt that this was obviously a bit nonsense.
Do you need to raise money and food for the war yourself? Do you need to raise money temporarily?
Do you really think that the northwest is a place full of oil and water?
If you want to extract oil from the loess, that production table would be too idealistic.
Wang Shouren asked: "What methods did Datong use to survive the winter in the past?"
"This..." Wang Xi hesitated for a moment, but gave a general explanation. After all, he also knew that Wang Shouren would not be transferred from Datong in a short time. Now we are sharing weal and woe. It is also time for this young Jinshi to know the conditions in the northwest. harsh.
He said: "Often soldiers go out to patrol the passes and take this opportunity to see if they can get some cattle, sheep, etc..."
Wang Shouren frowned, and he probably understood that this was somewhat similar to the "grasping in the valley" mentioned before.
Wang Shouren said: "Should I get cattle and sheep, or should I get the people's food and grass for the winter?"
This means, should the soldiers rob the Tatars or rob their own people?
Wang Xi sighed: "The soldiers also want to have food for the winter."
Wang Xi's words were almost an admission that if the local soldiers in Datong Town ran out of money and food, they would rob their own people in the name of sending troops.
Wang Shouren said coldly: "No wonder I, on my way here, heard someone mention that 'thieves come like a comb, soldiers come like a grate, and officials come like a shave'. Even my own people are not spared. What's the matter with the farming areas in the northwest?" Was it robbed by the Tatars, or was it robbed by generals at all levels? If this trend happens again, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"Wang Zhongcheng, this means that all the governors have always wanted to strictly stop this matter, but in order to implement it, I'm afraid they still have to prevent the army from taking the lead. The soldiers are also having a hard time."
As the commander-in-chief, Wang Xi knew that the soldiers below would plunder his own people but did not care.
In fact, it was to tell Wang Shouren that this was for survival and there was nothing he could do about it.
The soldiers have weapons, but the common people don't have weapons. Those with weapons can't survive. It sounds reasonable to plunder those without weapons... Do you want people with weapons to plunder the Ming Dynasty's treasury? ?
Who among the officials and generals doesn’t want to live and work in peace and contentment? But the problem is that the imperial court cannot provide that much money and food for the northwest.
Wang Shouren said: "So, you should listen to Zhang Zhitai. He said he wants to open a mine, and you must cooperate. With the mine, there will be money, and the grain merchants will transport grain from the south of the Yangtze River. Zhang Zhitai changed it to open a mine. In China and France, there are salt guides and salt merchants, and the soldiers can fill their stomachs."
"Haha, Wang Zhongcheng, I'm afraid... it won't be that fast, right?" Wang Xi smiled bitterly.
Even if Zhang Zhou is really capable, isn't it a fantasy to expect him to solve the financial problems of the towns in the northwest in a short time?
Wang Shouren said: "I have brought more than 10,000 taels of silver here. It is for Zhang Zhitai to raise manpower to start the mine. If you can find people, you can take the more than 10,000 taels of silver."
"ah?"
Wang Xi heard this.
Even if Zhang Zhou gave you the silver, do you plan to use the silver from mining that Zhang Zhou gave you for military use?
Doesn't that mean...you have betrayed Zhang Zhou's trust in you?
Wang Shouren saw Wang Xi's puzzled expression and did not explain. He said: "Now that Huo Si is moving south, it is probably not to attack the pass. It is just because internal disputes have arisen. He has no way to gain a foothold in Weininghai. But if he wants to gain a foothold in Mao
It is not realistic to go to Erzhuang and other places. Giving him land to graze in the Hetao is a gift to him. Detailed battle reports are expected to come in the next few days."
…
…
Just as Wang Shouren expected.
As Huochai led his troops southward, Ye Bushou of the Ming Dynasty also heard the news, saying that there was a battle between Huochai and the Yongxiebu tribe of Yibula in the Weining Sea.
The specific results of the battle cannot be ascertained, but it seems that Huo Si lost. Otherwise, why would Huo Si go south and leave Weining Sea?
Previously, Huoshai asked Ming to grant him the Weining Sea. Now that he is giving up this fertile pasture, it only shows that he also knows that even if Ming has such a reward, Huoshai will not dare to establish a foothold in Weining Sea again. It seems that he has only the west.
Move this way.
On this day, Wang Shouren was summoning the generals of Datong Town to hold a military meeting.
However, a messenger came in and announced: "Major General, Mr. Tang is here."
The so-called "Mr. Tang" is Zhang Zhou's junior brother Tang Yin. These titles were arranged for them by Zhang Zhou's direct descendants. It seems that these Jinshi scholars of the same year are regarded as members of a team.
Wang Shouren dismissed the meeting that day and met Tang Yin in his governor's office.
"Bohu, aren't you exploring for mineral veins in the south with Zhang Zhitai?" Seeing Tang Yin's depressed look, Wang Shouren naturally thought that the exploration of the mineral veins was not going well.
Tang Yin said: "Zhang Zhitai felt that I couldn't help there, and knowing that Huo Si was heading south, he asked me to coordinate with you, Wang Zhongcheng, to prepare to welcome Huo Si into the pass for an audience."
Wang Shouren frowned and said, "It's Zhang Zhitai, so what does it matter?"
Tang Yin shook his head.
In his eyes, Zhang Zhou was too mysterious to reason with common sense. Anyway, he would go wherever Zhang Zhou asked him to go and do whatever he was asked to do.
"How is the progress of the mining?" Wang Shouren asked someone to serve tea.
"It's very smooth. Zhang Zhitai said it was very smooth. He pointed to a place and set up a mark to see if there was any ore... Who knows?" Tang Yin followed Zhang Zhou to explore for mineral veins, which was an eye-opener.
He also understood that he couldn't help Zhang Zhou there, so he could feel more comfortable when he came to help Wang Shouren.
At least Wang Shouren won't put so much pressure on him.
Tang Yin asked: "I heard that His Majesty gave you the title of Count Xinjian?"
As he said this, Tang Yin still looked envious.
Wang Shouren looked solemn and said: "There is news coming from the capital, but it has not been implemented yet, but Ma Yi, the commander-in-chief of the Xuanfu, has been promoted to Pinglupp."
"It's really not easy for a civil servant to get a title. It's comparable to Wang Weining." Tang Yin looked ashamed.
After all, before sending troops to Weininghai, Zhang Zhou also mentioned it to Tang Yin, and Tang Yin also clearly said that he did not have the courage. Of course, Zhang Zhou did not count on him at that time.
Now Wang Shouren has established his position in the army through this battle.
Wang Shouren said: "Even the governor of Pianguan, Wang Junmen, has not been promoted to the rank of nobility. I don't dare to take credit, so I petitioned your majesty to take back his order. Now the memorial has just been sent out."
Tang Yin wanted to say, if you don't want it, you can give it to me.
You don’t even want a title for you, it’s really... a well-fed man doesn’t know a hungry man is hungry.
"I'll tell you the specific situation of the war, let's go." Wang Shouren naturally regarded Tang Yin as Zhang Zhou's envoy. Although Tang Yin's official position was not as high as his, he was a powerful teacher, so Wang Shouren regarded Tang Yin as an imperial envoy.
But then Tang Yin waved his hand and said: "No, no, I am only responsible for welcoming the fire sieve. If he comes, I will welcome him. If he doesn't come, I will be safe for a few days. I have been too tired recently. As for the military situation, Zhang Zhitai also said before leaving.
I would like to specifically state that you, Wang Zhongcheng, will be responsible for not allowing me to interfere."
"hehe."
Wang Shouren smiled.
Zhang Zhou was pretty good at this. He didn't say that while arranging errands for him, he would also send someone to supervise him or even give him instructions.
Looking at Tang Yin's appearance... he looks like a mediocre person who can't do big things, but he quite likes Wang Shouren.
Wang Shouren smiled and said: "Bohu are of the same age, so there is no need to commensurate with official positions. Since Zhang Zhitai also saw that Huoshii had no intention of invading, then probably Huoshii's submission to the Ming Dynasty can be implemented, so you can stay here first.
I will let you know the news."
"good."
Tang Yin's face showed that he really didn't want to deal with those troublesome things.
Before coming to the northwest, he was just a man waiting to die. Now you expect him to do something big right away?
…
…
Wang Shouren originally wanted to arrange for Tang Yin to live in a wing of the governor's Yamen, but Tang Yin felt guilty and insisted on living in the post house.
Mainly because he didn't want to be restricted, but also because Xu Jing was already in the city earlier, and Xu Jing had already said that if Tang Yin came, he would definitely come to join him, and he also invited him to drink.
Tang Yin was now in an officialdom, and he still thought about his previous comfortable life as an ordinary scholar.
"Bohu..."
When Xu Jing saw Tang Yin in the post house, it was like meeting a close relative.
Tang Yin showed a lazy and incompetent side in front of Wang Shouren, but in front of Xu Jing, he instantly appeared to be very tall.
How can I say... I also work with senior brother Zhang Zhou to earn a living.
"Go in and talk." Tang Yin said.
"Okay, the wine has been prepared."
Xu Jing hurriedly led the way to Tang Yin. When he entered the guest room of the post house, what he saw was not some "little wine", but a very sumptuous banquet.
Xu Jing said with a flattering look on his face: "Now your reputation, Bohu, is being spread everywhere. Bohu is now Zhang Zhitai's fellow sect, which is really enviable to others. I heard that you have a good friendship with that Wang Zhongcheng? I don't know.
Can you please allow me to hold an official position in the governor's office?"
Although Tang Yin was an official, he did not open a government.
Without opening a government, he was not qualified to recruit staff... In other words, Tang Yin's salary could not even support himself, and there was no need to support someone to provide him with advice.
But Wang Shouren is different. He is now a serious governor, and many people who are frustrated will come to seek refuge.
